Here is the information you need for Moonlight. Here is the official website for the film.
Based on Terrell Alvin McCraney's unpublished play, Moonlight is Barry Jenkins second film. The film won the 2016 Oscar for Best Picture (despite the initial announcement that the odds-on favorite La La Land had won, a huge embarrassment for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science). Made for $1.5 million, it grossed $55.8 million, the second lowest grossing film to win the Oscar.
Accolades:
•Academy Awards: 8 nominations. Three wins. Best Picture. Best Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali. Best Adapted Screenplay: Barry Jenkins and Terrell Alvin McCraney,
•Numerous Top Ten Lists.
•Numerous awards.
Here is the trailer for the film.
1. So what is your reaction to the film? Like? Dislike? Explain. And what has jumped out at you about it? It can be an actor, a scene, a moment, something technical—sound, photography, music, etc. And why did this jump at you?
2. So what is this film about? Based on what we've seen, the first 40 minutes, where do you see it going—and why? (Those of you who have seen it, please, try to not give the rest of the movie away; stick to the first 40 minutes in your discussion too)
200 words. See you all tomorrow.
1. While we just watched and discussed two movies that had little to no dialogue and not huge emotional conventions, this film created a strong emotion convention to the character within the very start of the film. Chiron creates a lot of emotion very obviously as he is trying to find his way in life with less than ideal home or school environments. So far I am very engrossed in the film and feel extremely attached to the main characters. Also, technically the movie is very beautiful with lighting and shots. One shot and lighting moment that really stood out to me was a moment when Chiron and his mother just stare at each other for a while and then, without saying anything, the mother recedes back into her bedroom which is illuminated by a pink tone in the dark. This moment not only stood out t me because of the colors and beauty, it was also a very emotionally telling moment about the mother and son's relationship.
ReplyDelete2. This movie is a about a boy named Chiron and his struggles growing up and trying to find himself with a drug addict mother. Juan, who happens to be his mothers drug dealer, comes across Chiron by accident one day and they share an instant connection. The movie deal with his family life and struggles with his mother and how that brings him to Juan, and also his un-acceptance among peers at school. I think this film is a sort of a coming of age film for Chiron but also grapples with many different social issues such as race and sexuality.
1. So far I really like the film. It is stunning artistically, and the filming is really interesting. The scene in which Juan teaches Chiron how to swim really stood out to me. The music and filming really came together to capture a unique take on the experience. Water kept on dipping partially onto the camera, and the camera bobbled almost making it feel like the viewer themselves were struggling to swim. Another scene that stood out for me was the first scene. The camera kept on rotating around the characters, and the scene was all shot in one take with no cuts. The rotating almost made me feel dizzy, and I thought it was a really interesting way to start the film. It really set the scene (literally) for all of the interesting camera behaviors throughout the movie.
ReplyDelete2. The film is about a boy named Chiron and his life. The movie highlights his struggles growing up with a drug addicted mother, dealing with bullying in school, and his new relationship with his mother’s drug dealer. Honestly I am not really sure where the movie is going. I already feel a really emotional connection with Chiron and Juan, and I have a feeling that something bad is going to happen to Chiron. Also talking about emotional connection I feel like the movie has done a really good job connecting the viewers emotionally with the characters remarkably fast. I already really really care about the well being of Chiron, and just want the best for him.
I like the film. It can be hard to watch sometimes because Chiron is bullied so often and his home situation is so poor. We see how hard it can be even when he isn't at home, like in the beginning when he refuses to say where he lives because he dreads returning. Both the music and the color of the film jump out to me. The music is beautiful and powerful. When they play classical music over little boys playing ball and wrestling it adds a different meaning. Also the colors have obvious significance to Chiron and the other character's stories. Every scene has such good use of color.
ReplyDeleteThe film is about growing up when you don't always fit into the situations around you. Chiron has to be tough and keep a brave face even when he can only occasionally rely on support from adults or the kids around him. In the scene in the park, his friend acknowledges that Chiron is tough but tells him he has to prove it for others to believe it. Chiron doesn't like always showing off or participating in the same masculine rituals that the other boys do. He loves his mom, but she's unreliable because of her addiction
1. I really like the movie. Despite its slow pace, I still feel caught up in the thrill of Chiron's life. In most films I don't really care too much about the acting, but in this movie I think the acting plays a huge role in the greatness of the movie. For one thing, the facial expressions of the characters really make the film believable, and makes me feel apart of Chiron's life and journey to manhood. This movie really makes me feel as though I'm living in Miami with Chiron, which is one of the main reasons I really enjoy the movie so far. I also usually do not really care much about the cinematography in most films, but in Moonlight it really stood out for me. I loved the close up shots on characters' faces because, again, it made me really feel as if I was living in Miami with Chiron.
ReplyDelete2.This film is about a young boy growing up in a poor area of Miami. While dealing with his mom, he also is struggling to find who he really is. Juan (Mahershala Ali) says to Chiron that he should not let anyone else determine who he really is, and I think this is the main premise of the movie. Chiron must deal with the challenges of his mom, bullies, and himself to become an adult and find his true self. I honestly have no idea where this movie is going. I think that Juan helps Chiron discover his true self, which is that he is, in fact, gay, and Chiron feels relieved that he does not have to deal with his inner-struggle anymore.
1. This is the third time I have seen Moonlight, the very first time I saw the film I liked it, but didn't really love it due to its slow pacing. Now, I really do love this movie because I can appreciate the cinematography and editing. It's harder for a movie based on real life to be as cinematic when showing normal actions; whereas in Fury Road, George Miller had lots of options on how to show the dystopian world (especially with the colors). But even though Moonlight is fully realistic, I can still appreciate the cinematography Jenkins employs: the opening long shot that spins around Ali as he talks to that other guy, the swimming scene when the camera is brushing against the water to create the effect that you, the audience, are swimming with them, and the choice of when to use front on shots for more intense scenes of emotion (when the mother is yelling at Chiron). The subtle use of color also makes the movie very easy to watch: the shirt Ali is first wearing matching the pavement, trees, and cars in the background, all show the care put into the design, and also the cool pink backlighting to the mother when she's yelling at Chiron (and how she eventually falls back into its seductive light), also in the same scene with the shots of Chiron and how his white shirt matches the white lamp behind him (theres also a door behind him which could symbolize how he wants to leave). The editing also adds a nice pace to the film, which culminates in short sequences like the swimming scene or the slowed down dramatic scene of Chiron and his mom that I just mentioned. This all gives a very structured feel to a movie that has no real end goal (not to mention how the film is split into three parts).
ReplyDelete2. So far, this film is about the hardships of life. I won't get into the end, which adds similar theme of self discovery, but so far we've seen him dealing with his drug addicted unstable mother, bullies, trying to fit into society (when he leaves those kids playing with the ball), and a good hearted guardian who he isn't willing to talk to. There's no end goal, similar to life, as we make our own aspirations, and its up to us to follow them. Chiron is just a kid now, so we can't expect him to have any real goals, and he doesn't talk much, which leaves the audience to project their own experiences and emotions onto his character. Really, this film is about growing up, where it will go afterwards? We'll see. This is really a film built on character, the polar-opposite of Fury Road, yet the main characters in both movies talk very little, forcing the audience to guess what they are feeling based on the viewers own experiences.
1. I have seen the movie before but watching it again is a different experience. I know what’s going to happen so I almost notice smaller details and clues that point in the direction it’s going that I didn't see before. I think the role of Little and Juan is really complex and super fascinating. Juan isn’t who you’d expect to assume the “caregiver” role but he is brilliant at it. These small moments like them in the ocean, when Juan teaches Little to swim, or at the dining room table when Little questions if he is a faggot, these moments create a bond between them and Juan makes an impression on Little that really takes hold of him. I think another surprise is the mom and how she acts. She’s so worried about him yet so careless, and since I first saw the movie I kind of wondered why Juan didn’t just take in Chiron because his home seemed a lot better than Chiron’s current one.
ReplyDelete2. As I said I have seen it so I’ll try not to spoil anything. I think the movie at this point is about the life of a kid growing up under hard circumstances. Little lives with his mom who sells their TV for drug money and brings men around the house who help continue her habit. Little also comes across the head of a drug ring who befriends him and tries to teach him things and take care of him. Little is bullied like a lot of kids, but he is thoughtful and really thinks about the insults thrown his way and why that might be. The movie shows this kid growing up and the influences the adults around him have on him.
1. I am really enjoying the movie so far. I like the filming and how it changes while the children are playing, as that really grabbed my attention since it was so different. The part that jumps out at me the most, though, are the actors. The kid is such a good actor, which is impressive as he doesn’t talk for so much of the beginning. The scene at the table where the kid asked about drugs and the adult cried was so good and it wasn’t even very long. Acting has been really good so far.
ReplyDelete2. I’m pretty sure this movie is about a kid with a drug addict mom growing up. I hope Mahershala Ali continues to be a big part in this movie because he’s a really cool guy and an awesome actor, but I think the movie is mainly focused on the boy. I have a feeling he’s going to keep being bullied and I really hope it doesn’t hold him back. However, I have heard that this is a really sad movie, and so I have a feeling the bullying will continue and will get to him and make him into a different person. I have heard this movie makes you cry, and I have a feeling I will definitely cry because I was already sad about this kid being treated poorly for no reason, and that there is no way he can help that his mom is a drug addict. I think there will be more development of his relationship with his mom and his friendship with Mahershala and his girlfriend.
1. I like the movie Moonlight so far. I am connected to the characters in the movie. One piece of the movie that jumped out at me was the filming. The director chooses moments to make the film shaky or spiny to make it feel as if you are the kid in the movie. For example, Chiron and his friend are wrestling in the grass, at this moment the camera gets shaky and gives the illusion that you are in the fight. This jumped out at me because this is a very unique way of filming many directors haven't done.
ReplyDelete2. Moonlight is about a young boy, Chiron, and his struggles as a kid and growing up. Chiron faces bullying from his friends, and his mom who is a drug addict. Chiron meets Juan, who is a father like figure to him. Juan and Chiron spend a lot of time together which Chiron's mom doesn't appreciate. Chiron finds out Juan is a drug dealer and leaves, this really upsets Juan because they had an emotional connection. I have never seen Moonlight but I presume the movie goes on to reveal that Chiron is gay and his difficulties dealing with that at school, and at home. After Chiron tells his mother I think she will kick him out of her house, and Juan will take him in.
1. I love this movie. It's definitely one of my favorites. I think the way it looks really intrigues me. I watch this film and I don't feel like it's a movie I feel very much in the story. The way the small details are so finely intertwined and the way the music affects the way I feel. There're are just so many elements that make this movie great to me. It approaches normal moments in time in a way I hadn't thought of or seen before. I love the originality and I think it's attention to how distinct and organic the visuals are are what make this film so great. It's kinda ironic how beautiful the movie is in itself while the story of the boy is very sad.
ReplyDelete2. From the first forty minutes of the movie it seems like its about a young boy growing up in a tough environment where he has to learn to be independent and to not rely on too many people. When offered guidance he's hesitant at first, but eventually realizes that he's safe within their care. Through some traumatic experiences the boy is faced with the task of finding his identity and discovering his place in the world. He's also forced to question things about himself, like his sexuality, from a young age which cause him to further isolate himself and feel alienated from his peers when he can't find the answers.
1. So far I really like this movie. I do think the it is sad because Chiron is an innocent kid whose mother takes drugs, lives in a very poor neighborhood and is bullied, however it puts more note on the scenes where he is happy. I don't really find this movie the prettiest but I think what makes it a good movie is the characters we have grown to care about. The moment that jumped out to me was when Chiron was asking Juan about drugs and his mother and Juan began to tear up over the fact that he was selling something to Chiron's mother knowing it makes Chiron's life more difficult. I really love the connection Chiron and Juan have and how Juan cares about him so much so early on. Also I think it's interesting that we like Juan even though he is a drug dealer.
ReplyDelete2. This movie is about Chiron, a boy who is seemingly alone in this world and has to learn how to come into himself without having a role model. You finally see him have a little joy when he meets a drug dealer who is ultimately the first male role model he has seen. We see their relationship progress and Juan makes an attachment to this young boy and then we watch him break it. I think this movie is about how Chiron has to deal with himself and getting to know who he is while dealing with poor living conditions and emense bullying.
1. When I first saw Moonlight, I didn't pay attention to the detailing and cinematography of the movie as much as I was following the storyline. I absolutely loved this movie the first time, and I still love it after watching it again; although this time I have a deeper respect for its filmography and scenery, as well as its characters. The part that really jumped at me (aside from the gorgeous location and color of the film) was the short scene of Chiron's mother yelling at him, but the filming was slowed down and her words were silenced. It enhanced my visual sense, and the colors that were reflected on her (red lights from her room) matched her angry mood. My interpretation of the silence portion was not only to focus on the music, but to also reflect the emptiness of her yelling and how it was taken by Chiron- maybe because it was such a regular event that he learned to blocked out her words as a coping mechanism. That scene really stood out to me because of its vibrancy and deepness, and it really turned the whole film around, in my opinion. From that point on, the watcher is aware of the abusive nature of the mother, and I think the director brings up such a poignant theme in the movie so artistically.
ReplyDelete2. The first 40 minute look like Moonlight is about the emotional struggles of a young boy, Chiron and his relationships with himself and with other people. He faces bullying and an abusive, drug addicted mother, but soon finds solace in an older couple who provide him care, safety, and trust. He searches to find himself while being so isolated from the rest of the world. Clearly Chiron is fighting his own internal battles as he is protecting himself from cruel classmates, his mother, and the harsh environment he is brought up in.
1. The colors and visuals of this movie are incredible. It's beautifully done, and in a variety of spots, conveys more than just this beauty. The clearest example of this is when Chiron is learning to swim. The water laps up around the camera just as he struggles to keep his head up. Also, this scene is definitely more than just swimming. We see the fear he has in life as he struggles to learn to swim in a harsh city with little in his favor. Juan is the closest thing to a father he has, and Chiron goes to him to learn, and he's a drug dealer. What does that say about the options he has?
ReplyDelete2. This is a movie largely about identity. Each part is named for something people call the main character, and there is a heavy focus on names and their importance. From "black" to "little" to "faggot" to "Chiron," our main character is always hearing other people call him names and is trying to find out who he is. He doesn't talk much, and is still trying to choose his own name. He wants to know how to know whether he's gay. Teresa says he'll just know, but Chiron, for whatever reason, is unsure of this and other things about himself. He can't seem to define himself.
1. This is clearly an incredible movie, a work of art. It’s an important piece, and I’m glad we’re watching it, but I wouldn’t call it an entirely enjoyable movie experience just in that it’s so completely raw—which obviously is part of its brilliance, but it can make some scenes hard to watch. Do I like the film? I’m not sure what that means for this piece. Do I think it’s beautiful? Yes. Do I think it’s worthwhile? Yes. Do I respect it as art? Yes. But do I like it? I don’t know. I think it’s important to listen to stories of people different from myself, but that doesn’t mean I like hearing them. It can be hard, really hard, to hear about how the world has treated people, about how people have treated people, but I’m always glad to have heard these stories, and I feel much the same way about this movie. The scene that jumped out at me most was the one where Chiron’s mom yells at him but it’s muted and colorful and fabulous and horrible and all around striking. It’s raw, its brutal, but even more, it’s believable, and that’s what really kills me about it. We’re seeing it the way adult Chiron remembers it, not it words but in color and emotion. Really just incredibly powerful.
ReplyDelete2. I always have a hard time with questions as vague as this because there’s so much going on that I can’t quite pin down the main theme or message of a piece, but I’ll try. If I had to say one thing, I suppose this movie is about a boy just dealing with everything, diversity, inequality, judgement, disappointment, etc. A good boy in a bad, yet common, situation…then that situation becomes his whole life, for years. You know, I don’t think that’s a very good answer. I don’t really know what this film is about, and I’m not sure I will until I see if he ever learns to be happy, until I see how his story ends. Then again, a life cannot be summed up in the way it ends, so really I should be able to figure out what his life is about right now, what the film is about, but all I see is a boy trying to be brave every single day, a boy who’s bound to get tired and crack, and I think what happens after that crack will tell us what the movie is really about.